High sensitivity stress sensor based on hybrid materials
AssigneeWest Virginia University
InventorXian-An Cao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sensing device is used to detect the spatial distributions of stresses applied by physical contact with the surface of the sensor or induced by pressure, temperature gradients, and surface absorption. The sensor comprises a hybrid active layer that includes luminophores doped in a polymeric or organic host, altogether embedded in a matrix. Under an electrical bias, the sensor simultaneously converts stresses into electrical and optical signals. Among many applications, the device may be used for tactile sensing and biometric imaging.
Claims27
A sensing device, which converts a stress field into optical signals, comprising:
- a supporting substrate;
- a first electrode disposed above the substrate;
- a hybrid active layer comprising luminophores embedded in an electrically insulating matrix disposed above the first electrode;
- a second electrode disposed above the hybrid active layer;
- an electrical potential applied across the first electrode and second electrode resulting in light emission from the hybrid active layer;
- and
- a stress field experienced by the second electrode or the substrate produces variations of the intensity of the light emission from the hybrid active layer whereby the intensity of the light emission decreases with increasing stress field magnitude.
A sensing device which converts a stress field into electrical and optical signals, comprising:
- a supporting substrate;
- a first electrode disposed above the substrate;
- a hybrid active layer comprising organic dye embedded in a matrix disposed above the first electrode;
- a second electrode disposed above the hybrid active layer;
- an electrical potential applied across the first electrode and second electrode resulting in light emission from the hybrid active layer and electrical current flow through the hybrid active layer;
- and
- a stress field experienced by the second electrode or the substrate producing variations of the intensity of the light emission from the hybrid active layer and variations of the electrical current flow through the hybrid active layer.
A sensing device which converts a stress field into electrical and optical signals, comprising:
- a supporting substrate having a first and second surface;
- a first electrode having a first and second surface;
- a second electrode having a first and second surface;
- the first surface of the first electrode adjoining the second surface of the substrate;
- a hybrid active layer having a first and second surface;
- the hybrid active layer further comprising organic dye doped in a host, the host embedded in an electrically insulating matrix;
- the first surface of hybrid active layer adjoining the second surface of the first electrode;
- the first surface of the second electrode adjoining the second surface of the hybrid active layer;
- an electrical potential applied across the first electrode and second electrode resulting in light emission from the hybrid active layer and electrical current flow through the hybrid active layer;
- and
- a stress field between 6 kPa and 107 kPa experienced by the second surface of the second electrode or the first surface of the substrate resulting in variations of the intensity of the light emission from the hybrid active layer and variations of the electrical current flow through the hybrid active layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.